NCAA Preview 2012: Five Things You Need to Know about No. 39 Hobart

Hobart is looking to rebound from a 5-9 record last season in which the Statesmen were barred from postseason play because of NCAA penalties. Coach T.W. Johnson says the penalties are in the past and the team is preparing for the upcoming season one game at a time.

The Statesmen return almost their entire starting lineup this year as well as one of the best face-off middies in the country in Bobby Dattilo.

A change to Johnson's coaching staff is expected to bolster the midfield unit, which has been one of the largest question marks for the team. Expect the Statesmen to increasingly push the ball in transition as midfielders develop into two-way threats.

Last year, more than half the Hobart roster was made up of freshman and sophomores so the Statesmen are hoping that experience pays off as they aim to return to the NCAAs.

Defending 'The House'

The Statesmen are looking to revert back to a physical style of defense that proved a hallmark of the 2008 and 2009 teams, which ranked among the best in the country in goals allowed. Johnson admits the team allowed too many inside shots last season as the Statesmen gave up more than 10 goals per game.

“We need to be more stingy and tougher around the crease,” he says.

During the fall, he's preached an “inside first” defensive strategy and coached players to protect the crease and give up shots outside of 13 yards. “Those are the saves were asking our goalie to make,” he says. “Inside of that is where we're learning to play with body.”

Learning Curve

More than half of last year's team was made up of freshman and sophomores, meaning young players found themselves in critical game situations, Johnson says. The Statesmen are hoping that experience pays off.

“A lot of these guys developed faster than they would naturally, and they're playing with a higher confidence level,” he said.

Such players include sophomore starting attackmen Alex Love and Cam Stone, as well as junior starting defensemen Sean Regan and Reid Rosello.

Love is a natural shooter with good hands, while Stone is a speedy attackman and good feeder. Regan and Rosello have earned the confidence of the coaching staff by shutting down the top offensive threats and enabling the defense to focus attention up top.

Scanlon Returns

Last season, the midfield unit proved a bit of a question mark for the Statesmen. In response, 2005 Hobart graduate Chris Scanlon was hired as an assistant coach to develop the middies as two-way threats.

Scanlon was a two-time captain at Hobart, tallied 60 career points and is one of the toughest players Johnson ever coached. After college, Scanlon spent five seasons playing Major League Lacrosse and he has worked to develop the Hobart middies as threats in transition.

“Our style is going to be different. We're developing middies who can increase the tempo and score in transition,” Johnson explained. “It's tough to score 10 goals a game in settled offense.”

Penalties Lifted

Perhaps the biggest question mark will be how the Statesmen respond as they come off the 2011 season in which they were barred from postseason play because of previous NCAA violations.

The self-reported violations included failure to get NCAA clearance, ineligible participation by a player, inconsistent financial aid, and a lack of institutional control, among others.

The Statesmen were forced to vacate wins from the 2006 season, before Johnson was coach, and are on probation for the next two years. Johnson says the penalties no longer affect the day-to-day running of the program.

“We haven't talked about it in a while,” he said. “We're eligible for the playoffs this year and that's what we're focused on.”

Hobart's own 'Rudy'

Johnson says the best coaching decision he ever made was to keep on the team an unknown walk-on named Sam Miller. Three years later, Miller has developed into one of the Statesmen's top offensive threats and has been named a captain going into the 2012 season.

Earning a starting role through determination and work ethic, the senior attackman has proven an inspiration to the team. He is described as a tough dodger who fights for the middle and a tenacious rider.

Miller led the team with 26 goals last season, was named second team All-ECAC, and tallied six hat tricks.

“He went from a walk-on to playing one game as a freshman and then all-conference. I don't know how many times you see that at the D1 level,” Johnson said.

Best Bet: Bobby Dattilo

Named a Face-Off Yearbook preseason second-team All-American, Dattilo is considered one of the top face-off middies in the history of Hobart lacrosse.
A first team All-ECAC selection last year, he finished the season winning 64% of face-offs, 192-296 and ranked third in the nation. He was ranked eighth in the national in ground balls and scooped up 93. He is a tough and scrappy midfielder who will be relied upon more in transition this season.

Sleeper Pick: Derek Akner, midfield

The Statesmen are expecting senior midfielder Derek Akner to have a breakout season. The former attackman is described as a powerful downhill dodger but remained relatively quiet last year with only four goals and two assists.

Game to Watch: Hobart vs. Syracuse, April 17

Johnson will tell you that the Hobart coaching staff doesn't overlook any games on the schedule. But fans and alum, no doubt, are eyeing the annual rivalry against Syracuse. This year marks the 25th competition for the Kraus-Simmons Trophy, honoring National Lacrosse Hall of Fame coaches Babe Kraus of Hobart and Syracuse’s Roy Simmons Sr. Last year, Syracuse won 13-7.

The 2012 meeting is being played home at 7 p.m. on April 17.

Inside Lacrosse is previewing the top 40 teams in Division I lacrosse based on Face-Off Yearbook rankings, as well as Division II, III and women's previews. Check every day until opening weekend for more.